Smart Metering Trial

Wonderful! Who needs a gennie🤷🏻‍♂️

The only issue is-those contour panels(thin & flat) are not up to the task demanded of them. The framed ones with cooling space under them are the best, biggest(wattage) anyone can fit in the space. 

Thanks for the heads up 👍🏻

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I'm camping 'off grid' currently and solar is definitely an easy way to be independent.

However, the desirability of some users to retain the use of mains powered hairdryers, kettles, microwaves or other short burst high powered items will require more electronic kit and complexity/cost. 

those wishing to use mains devices like these without a generator will need a large inverter and some decent batteries to back it up....lithium is the current 'big thing' but these batteries aren't cheap and charging them (from solar or other sources) requires a proper regime....

kitting out one's van to operate off grid won't be just for avoiding the the clubs metering process, most who go this route will be using other non EHU sites or locations for longer stays (THS sites) and the choice to 'just plug in' to a metered supply won't be there....

so, this investment will be for all locations and this is why some will use a generator over the other more complex kit required to make one truly independent for several weeks...

I spent 10 weeks or so recently in Spain without turning on the battery charger, relying on solar for our power, worked well...

one observation which slightly surprised me, compared to our current location, is that in Spain despite the very hot daytime sun, due to the low sun height in winter mornings the batteries didn't get up to fully charged each day until around 10 or 10:30, here in the SW in June with a much higher sun, batteries are back to full (after a bit of tv last night) by 8:00...

a single simple solar panel of, say 120+ watts will easily recover the previous evenings usage of tv, lights, water pump etc....

 

Yes, we too are familiar with the simple hook up options/systems we use for many weeks a year...even here now, I have a bollard on my pitch which includes water, waste and EHU....but as I booked 'non EHU' I'm being trusted not to connect up...as there are only three vans on site it either won't make any difference or it will stand out like a sore thumb, lol....

our overwintering site has meters, the main system in the office is linked but one is always presented with the physical bollard reading too.....just for security.

when you leave, you call into the office the night before, pay up and, effectively get the next day 'for free' prior to departure...

i realise this won't work at CAMC but the one the club is introducing seems a bit cumbersome...

much in the news lately about how some folk who don't have phones or don't like online payments being 'excluded' from modern car parks and the like which don't take cash etc...

I wonder how the club's demographic will cope with pre loading funds to an app and using Sagepay to a third party...

yes, it's the modern world but many still don't feel confident in this area..

BB, I think you sell your fellow travellers short. WiFi comms have been with us whilst the current generations were younger thus growing up knowing how these things work. Being excluded from online payments & cashless systems I think is by choice not by concern or fear. Twas ever thus👍🏻

You’re going over old ground here, BB, and talk as if it’s a done deal set in stone. Maybe you have forgotten that this is a trial at 2 sites. Being a trial, it will show up weaknesses and drawbacks and any other issues as well as positive points. That is the point of a trial. 👍

Oh, there are plenty out there who have apprehension and, even, fear of electronic transactions...

however, I'll check out the feedback from the trial...and then from the roll out, should it ever happen and see how well things develop.

That’s the best way. Wait and see.